Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – March 5, 1998

At nine in the morning, we arrived at the University of Petroleum in Dhahran. Upon our entry, a large group of students expressed their enthusiasm during the welcoming ceremony. As I moved toward them, they began chanting in the manner typical of Shias and recited the Shia-style *salawat* (invocations of blessings upon the Prophet and his family). Security personnel moved them away from us. My companions mentioned that the university president had privately remarked to the police that arrangements should have been made for me to approach the invited guests rather than the students. The majority of the local population is Shia, and presumably, the student body is as well.

In an elegant hall—reminiscent of the venue for our own Organization of the Islamic Conference summits, though smaller—Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Dakhil, the university president, presented a report on the institution. It comprises 7,000 students and 800 faculty members, spans six million square meters of land, and includes 400,000 square meters of buildings fully equipped with all necessary laboratory facilities. The university maintains connections with advanced global centers and selects top-tier students—those with high grade-point averages—from a twenty-year history of admissions. He outlined the various academic disciplines and research activities.

The attendees were seated around a large circular table, while a smaller circle in the center was surrounded by monitors. A film detailing the history and current status of the university was screened, accompanied by simultaneous translation into Persian. We also toured the laboratories and the research center, receiving detailed explanations. At several points, photographs were taken with us, and we were presented with gifts. I wrote an entry in their guestbook. Overall, it is an advanced university, well-aligned with the needs and the oil industry of Saudi Arabia. Throughout the remainder of the visit, the students remained present, albeit at a distance. I believe this serves as a clear indication of the regard in which the people of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province hold Iran.

From there, we proceeded to the Aramco company. The welcoming ceremony took place, attended by the Minister of Petroleum. Following the customary coffee service, the Minister delivered a welcoming address in the amphitheater. A film was screened detailing the history of the Saudi oil industry; the seventh well struck oil in the year 1356 AH. Later, in Dhahran, we visited that specific well and reservoir—which has yielded 302 million barrels of oil to date. Although it still holds significant reserves, the wells there are no longer in use.

We then toured an engaging exhibition, where the provided explanations offered valuable insight into Saudi Arabia’s oil industry and the Aramco company. We were informed that the company is now entirely state-owned by the Saudi government. Saudis make up 80 percent of the 65,000-strong workforce and hold management positions, while foreign nationals are employed as experts or laborers.

The company possesses a production capacity of ten million barrels per day, a figure set to rise to 10.5 million barrels with the commissioning of a new field. Domestically, 1.5 million barrels per day are processed across eight refineries; an additional 1.7 million barrels are refined at overseas facilities in which the company holds a partial stake or management control.

All associated (produced) gas is captured and utilized by the petrochemical sector. Foreign firms are engaged solely as contractors. The company retains 15 percent of oil revenues, remitting the remainder to the government, and is responsible for all oil-related operations, both domestically and internationally. The exhibition presented valuable information covering the entire process—from the initial formation of oil reservoirs to seismic surveying, drilling, extraction, refining, and the resulting products. A central section explored the historical contributions of Muslim scholars to various modern petroleum-related sciences, showcasing excellent examples; notably, several of these scholars were Iranian. Following lunch, we visited Well No. 7 before returning to our quarters.

We were informed that the Emir of Bahrain had organized a dinner, inviting 300 prominent figures, and intended to conduct an official reception in the middle of the causeway. I pointed out that this was not the agreed-upon arrangement; the plan was for him to meet us along the route—at the border between the two countries—where we would hold discussions. We conveyed that we were already committed to dining elsewhere, and stipulated that for us to enter Bahrain, he would first need to visit us at our place of residence. It later emerged, however, that members of our embassy and our Chargé d'Affaires had already accepted the invitation to the dinner.

At 4:30 PM, we set out to view the major causeway connecting Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. An executive from the independent authority managing the causeway accompanied us, providing insightful details along the way: the structure spans 25 kilometers, reaching a maximum depth of 12 meters at the deepest point of the sea. It cost two billion Saudi Riyals to construct—an investment expected to be fully recouped through tolls over 11 years of operation. With 50 million vehicles having crossed the causeway—at a rate of approximately 15,000 per day—a toll of 20 Saudi Riyals is collected from each vehicle. People from Bahrain generally travel to this side for shopping, while Saudis come for leisure and entertainment—as Bahrain offers greater freedom regarding sexual matters and certain forms of "unwholesome" recreation. Wealthy Saudis, in particular, often spend their weekends in Bahrain. Entry into either country is processed at the bridge’s checkpoints; upon payment of a toll, a stamp is issued immediately, allowing for seamless entry. In the middle of the causeway lies a small island, which serves as the border between the two nations. It has been developed into a beautiful, lush green island, featuring a tall tower topped with an elegant restaurant, alongside several other structures.

The Emir of Bahrain—accompanied by his entire cabinet, members of parliament, and other national dignitaries—had been waiting for us there for an hour. They accorded us a formal welcome, complete with the national anthems of both countries and an inspection of the honor guard, followed by a formal introduction session in a reception hall. I had intended to turn back from that point, but given the overwhelming warmth and affection shown, I could not bring myself to mention it; instead, we traveled on to Bahrain together in the same vehicle.

During the journey and our subsequent discussions, he repeatedly expressed his high regard and gratitude for my gesture, insisting that I stay for dinner. When I explained that I had already made a prior commitment to the Dhahran Chamber of Commerce, he graciously accepted my excuse. Although the head of the Chamber, Mr. Zamil, was a friend of his, the Emir—mindful of the guests present—would not take "no" for an answer and insisted that we join them at the dinner table.

Following a round of talks—which focused primarily on the necessity of regional cooperation, the facilitation of travel between the nations, and the prevention of any pretexts [for friction].